Mirai Sentai Timeranger (2000) [Tokusatsu Review]

Mirai Sentai Timeranger; or, Back to the Future
     Even if we can’t change our future, we can still change our tomorrow!
Mirai Sentai Timeranger [Future Squadron Timeranger] is one of the first shows that were recommended to me at the beginning of my Super Sentai journey. With breaks, it took me about a year to check out all 51 episodes of the series. To be honest, I do not regret any minute of this long journey. Timeranger is undoubtedly one of the most gripping Super Sentai seasons out there.

Release Info

Developed by: Yasuko Kobayashi Starring: Masaru Nagai, Mika Katsumura, Yuji Kido, Masahiro Kuranuki, Shuhei Izumi, Shinji Kasahara

Language: Japanese Original Title: 未来戦隊タイムレンジャー No. of eps.: 51

Synopsis
It’s the year 3000. With the boost of technology, time travel has become possible, but due to an increase of crimes which created paradoxes, the Time Protection Agency was developed. Their aim is to prevent time-related crimes and arrest the criminals. However, a group of gangsters known as the Londerz Family: Dolnero (Ryuzaburo Otomo), Gien (Koji Tobe), and Lila (Asami Kuru) escape from the confinement facility together with dozens of other prisoners locked in suspended animation. They jump in time to the year 2000. Four young Time Agency cadets: Yuuri (Mika Katsumura), Ayase (Yuji Kido), Sion (Masahiro Kuranuki), and Domon (Shuhei Izumi) follow in hot pursuit. They barely survive the landing and, after being betrayed, their Chrono Ship self-destructs. Stranded in 2000, the cadets are aided by a local guy Tatsuya (Masaru Nagai) who coincidentally looks like their Captain from the future. With the help of Navigator Robo Tac (Yusuke Numata) and Chrono Changer braces, the team transforms into Timerangers. Their aim is to arrest the Londerz Family and prevent history from being altered.

Time After Time
Mirai Sentai Timeranger was developed by anime/Tokusatsu veteran screenwriter Yasuko Kobayashi (who also helmed Seijuu Sentai Gingaman in 1998). Evidently, Timeranger puts a lot of emphasis on a serious tone and action. Even though things may seem to be light-hearted at certain moments, the story actually has a lot of depth and Timerangers (as well as the villains) have marvellous story arcs throughout the series.

Right from the very first episode, the viewers are kept on the edge of their seats and the show just keeps getting better with each consecutive episode. Thankfully, the idea of “time travel” is not used here as a plot armour (contrary to Avengers: Endgame (2019)). Timerangers can’t just go back in time and undo their failures. In fact, the story of the series is not so much about changing time but changing possible dimensions (which is explained in the finale and ties in to Tatsuya’s saying about changing one's own tomorrow).

The rangers themselves are simply wonderful. I love them all! Throughout the series, each and every one of them faces their own demons, even the Navigator Robot Tac has an entire episode devoted just to him. If I were to pick a favourite ranger, I’d go for Domon (TimeYellow) and Naoto (TimeFire- yes, the sixth ranger joins the team and he is such a badass!) In addition, the villains appear to be painfully predictable at first glance, but their motivations change and they become extremely complex characters (I’m looking at you, Gien!)

Being a kid at primary school, I remember seeing bits and pieces of the American adaptation, Power Rangers: Time Force, on television. Well, I’m glad that I finally managed to check out the original show in its unaltered form. The story is excellent and the pacing just perfect (one can feel that all hell breaks loose onwards episode 42).

Speaking about performances, all the actors playing the rangers were great in their roles. I also enjoyed the voice performances of Koji Tobe, Ryuzaburo Otomo, and Yusuke Numata as Gien, Dolnero, and Tac, respectively. Also, Asami Kuru was hilarious as Lila.

With regard to trivia, there is not much of these about Timeranger. Allegedly, the production was riddled with problems and there was some drama on the set, but I treat these revelations merely as unconfirmed rumours. From other information, this is the first series which used only a female singer for the opening theme song ("JIKŪ ~Mirai Sentai Timeranger~" by Kumi Sasaki). Many fans dislike the intro, but I love it. In addition, the ending theme “Toki No Kanata E” by NAT’S is absolutely outstanding. Interestingly, Timeranger is the last series since Carranger that has been shot with the usage of digital D-2 cassettes, not proper film (hence, the picture has visible quality loss).

Recommendations
I recommend Mirai Sentai Timeranger to anyone who wants to experience a well-made Super Sentai series. If you live in the West, try to grab a Shout! Factory DVD release. This is science fiction at its best. Grasp the Infinite Future!Overall Score: 10/10

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